Verschillende voorstellingen c. 1828 - 1913

This print by Erve Wijsmuller presents a playful array of illustrated letters, each framing a vignette of everyday life. Consider the barber shop scene, a theater of transformation. Here we see the ritual of cutting hair, but it's more than mere grooming. The barber's tools—scissors and comb—become symbolic instruments, echoing the ancient shears of fate, instruments of change and renewal. We can trace similar acts of transformation through medieval allegories, where a cut of the hair can symbolize the beginning of a new life. The act of shaving has held profound significance across cultures. Think of Samson's strength residing in his hair. The barber shop is where identity is shaped, a reflection of our evolving selves, consciously crafted. It’s a place where one seeks both aesthetic and psychological renewal. This image is more than a scene; it's a mirror reflecting our deep-seated desires for reinvention.